Method of drying materials and drier therefor



R; REA.

METHOD OF DRYING MATERIALS AND DRIER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. 1916. 1,320,569, v Patented Nov. 4,1919.

,2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

14-012 41 fo c R. REA. METHOD OF DRYING MATERIALS AND DRIER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI6, 1916. 1,320,569. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

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ROBERT REA, PORTLAN D, OREGON, ASSIGN'OR TO PACIFIC EVAPORATOR COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, A. CORPORATION OF OREGON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Application filed May 16, 1916. Serial No. 97,824.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT REA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Drying Materlals openings The effect of thus taperlng the PIPES,

panying drawings as follows Figure 1 shows a horizontal section of the drier on the line 1..1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 1n Fig. 1..

' Fig. 3 a side elevation of one of the exhaust channels.

Fig. 4 a side elevation of the drier, partly in vertical section on the line 44 in Fig. 1. 1 marks the drier house as a whole. This has the drying chamber 2, the air lock 3 at one end of the drying chamber and the air lock 4 at the opposite end of the dryin chamber. A heating chamber 5 is arranged at one side of the drying chamber 2 and this has a series of steam coils 5 arranged at' various levels. Steam is delivered to these coils through the pipe 5*, the steam being controlled in the various coils by valves 5.

These coils are so adjusted as to give uniform heat to different parts of the drier so that all parts of the frult from top and bottom are uniformly dried. The passage of air through thecoils is controlledby the doors or valves 6 and 7.

Air is exhausted through the lateral pipes 8. These'preferably extend from a vertical manifold pipe 9, the vertical'pipe being connected with a horizontal pipe 9 and this leads to an exhaust fan' 9*. The pipes 8 are preferably tapered. and have tapered 11 leading from tapered channels 10. openings and channels is to cause a uniform how of air throughout the lengthof the.

drying chamber and throughout the height of the drying chamber. The air passes horizontally across the drying chamber from the heating chamber and the flow of air is induced by exhausting the air by means of the fan 9". In general this mode of directlng the air currents through the drying chamber is shown and described in my patent dated Jan. 26th 1915 #1,126,567. Tracks 12, 13- and 14 extend lengthwise through the drying chamber. A run-way 15 is provided between the tracks 12 and 13 and a run-way 16 between the heating chamber 5 and the track 14. Cars 17 are arranged on these tracks, these cars carrying the racks 18. Trays '19 are mounted in these racks. The trays 19 are inclined in the direction of the flow of the air and are provided with perforated bottoms, preferably wire mesh bottoms, so that the air having the general horizontal direction through the drying chamber reaches all parts of the fruit, some of the air passing through the wire bottoms.

This feature is of great importance in giving to the vapor-laden air free movement and effects a rapid evaporation and prevents the formation of dead pockets in which there is not only a lack of drying but may be actual condensation and resulting imperfect product.

Cars are delivered through the door 20 on the track 12 to the air lock 3. From this they are passed throughthe door 21 to the drying chamber 2. They are taken from the drying chamber past the door 22 into the air lock 4. A- pit 23 is arranged crosswise of the house in the air lock 4 and this is provided with a track 23. A car 24 is arranged on the track 23 and carries a turn table 24 A track 25 is arranged on the turn table 24 and the car as it comes from the track 12 is passed on to the track 25 on the turn table. The car 24 is then moved along the track 23 bringing the track 25 opposite the track 13. The door 26 is then opened and the/car is again moved into the drying chamber on the track 13. After advancing through the drying chamber on the track 13 it is removed by way of the door 27 to the air lock 3. A circular pit 28 is arranged in the air lock 3 and in this pit a turntable '29 is mounted, Two tracks are arranged on the turn table 29 and these tracks are so spaced as to register with the tracks 13 and 14. A car passin through This carries the track on which the car is then mounted into register with the track 14 and the companion track 30 into register with the track 13. The car is then moved through the door 31 back into the drying chamber 2 and thence through this chamber and discharged throu h the door 32 onto the track 25, the car 24 aving been moved so as to bring the track 25 into regisr ter with the track 14. The turn table 24 is then swung bringing the track across the house and lengthwise of the air lock 4. The car is discharged by way of a track 33 and door 34.

In the ordinary operation of the device,

assuming that the drying house is filled, a

car is taken through the door 32 and discharged. The cars on the track 14 are then advanced thus leaving a space next the door 31. The .car is then taken from the track 13 and by way 'of the turntable 29 reversed and transferred to the space next to the door 31, thus filling the track 14. K The cars on the track 13 are then advanced forming a space opposite the door 26. This space is then filled by transferring a car through the door 22 from the track 12. The cars on the track 12' are then advanced and a fresh car is introduced through the door 20.

It will be observed that the trays 19 are not only inclined in the direction of the air but that the inclinations of the trays on the tracks 13 and 14 are reversed so that the trays are, as arranged through the drier, so inclined as to have the air pass downwardly through them and also upwardly through them and the air is delivered to them from opposite ends, thus preventing any undesirable air pockets. It will further be observed that while the advantage of passing the air crosswise through the dryeffect of theair is obtained and efliciency of the added tracks is ha ing chamber is obtained thus assuring a more certain distribution of the air, at the same time, the fruit is advanced toward the incoming air, the trays on the track 14 being subjected to the drying effect of the air before it is moisture-laden from the evaporation, the trays on the track 13 being partially dried being subjected to the par tially laden air and the cars on the track 12 being fresh are subjected to the air carrying the moisture from the tracks 14 and 13. In this way the full evaporating the reater withoutdecreasing the drying efiectthat is obtained on the track subjected to the incoming air. i

The alternate arrangement of the inclination of the material being dried not only assures the movement of the air through v the perforated trays from .top to bottom and from bottom to top, but also prevents any decided inclination of the air away from the horizontal and What tendency there is to deflect gives more pronounced impact of the air upon the fruit or material being dried, so that a greater efficiency results. The reversing of the direction in which the air strikes the material is also of considerable importance, because the initial impact of the air with one inclination is on the top, and with the other inclination at the bottom.

' What I claim as new is 1. In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; and drying trays in 'sa1d chamber, said trays having perforated bottoms and being inclined to the horizontal and to the direction of the flow of air.

2. In a drier, the combination of an elongated drying. chamber; means for forcin a current of air horizontally across said chamber; and drying trays in said chamber, said trays having perforated bottoms and being inclined to the horizontal and to the direction of the flow of air.

3. In a drier, the combination of adrying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; and two tiers of. trays placed successively tin the direction of the flow of air, both tiers having their trays inclined to the direction of the flow of air and the inclination in one tier being reversed from that of theother.

4. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means forforcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; and drying trays in stacks in spaced and open relation in said chamber, said trays-having perforated bottoms and being inclined to the horizontal and to the direction of the flow of air.

5. Ina drier, the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current 0 air horizontally through said chamber; and two tiers of trays placed successively in the direction of the flow of air, both tiers having their trays inclined to the direction of the flow of air and the inclination in one tier being reversed from that of the other, the bottoms of said trays being perforated.

6. In a drier, the combination of a .drying chamber having a plurality of tracks therein; cars on said tracks having tray racks thereon; means for forcing air through the chamber crosswise of the tracks and inclosed,

ways for transferring. said cars from a track more remote from the incoming air to a perforated bottoms; and inclosed-ways for advancing the rows of racks and for trans ferring the racks from a row more remote from, the incoming a1r to a row nearer said incoming air.

8 In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber; rows of tray racks in said cham-.

ber; means for forcing air through the chamber crosswise of the rows; trays having perforated bottoms, on said racks, said trays being inclined to the direction of the flow of air and the trays in succession inthe flow of air having their inclinations reversed; and inclosed ways for advancing the rows of racks and for transferring the racks from a row more remote from the incoming air to a now nearer said incoming air.'

10. In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber; rows of tray racks in said chamber; means forforcing air through the chamber crosswise of the rows; trays on said racks, said trays being inclined in the direction of the air; and inclosed ways for advancing the rows of racks and for transferring the racks from a row more remote from the incoming air to a row nearer said incoming air and for reversing the inclinaa gated drying chamber; means for forcing a tion of the trays as the racks are transferred.

11. In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber; means for directing a flow of air crosswise of the chamber; and inclosed ways for advancing material to be dried lengthwise of the chamber and for transferring the material from a path more remote from the incoming air to a path less remote from the incomin air.

12. In a drier, the com ination of a drying chamber; means for directing a flow of air crosswise of the chamber; a series of paths along which the material is advanced lengthwise of the chamber; and means for changing the relation between material while inclosed and its path and the inflow of air to the chamber.

13. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of.

air horizontally through said chamber; drying trays in said chamber; said trays having perforated bottoms and being inclined to the direction of the flow of air, and means for reversing the relation between the direction of the flow of air and the inclined trays,

whereby the air in one relation passes through the tray from top to bottom and the other relation through the tray from bottom to top.

14. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; drying trays in stacks in spaced and open relation in said chambers, said trays having perforated bottoms and being inclined to the direction of the flow of air; and means for reversing the relation between the direction of. the flow of air and the inclined trays whereby the air in one relation passes through the trays from top .to bottom and the other relation through the trays from bottom to top,

15. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; two tiers of trays placed successively in the direction of the flow of air, both tiers having its trays inclined to the direction. of the flow of air, said trays having perforated bottoms; means for reversing the relation between the direction of the flow of air and the trays in each tier, whereby the air in one relation passes through the tray from top to bottom and the other relation through the tray from bottom to top.

16. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; and two tiers of trays placed successively in the directionof the flow of air, both tiers having the trays inclined to the horizontal and to the direction of the flow of air, said trays having perforated bottoms.

17. In a drier the combination of an eloncurrent of air horizontally across said chamber; two tiers of drying trays placed successively across said chamber, each tier extending the full length of said chamber, the trays of each tier being inclined to the horizontal and to the direction of the flow of air, said trays having perforated bottoms.

18. In a drier the combination of an elongated drying chamber; means. for forcing a current of air horizontally across said chamber; two tiers of drying trays placed successively across said chamber, each tier extending the full length of said chamber, the

trays of each tier being inclined to the direc- 19- In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; rows of tray racks in said chamber; means for forcing air through the chamber crosswlse of the rows and across a plurality of rows; trays on said racks, said trays being inclined to the direction of the flow of air and having perforated bottoms; means for advancing the rows of racks and for reversing the relation between the direction of the flow of the air and the inclination of the trays.

20. In a drierthe combination of a drying chamber; rows of tray racks in said chamber; means for forcing air through the chamber crosswise. of the rows and across a plurality of rows; trays on said racks, said trays being inclined to the direction of the air and having perforated bottoms; means for advancing the rows and for reversing the racks to reverse the relation between the direction of the flow of the air and the trays, whereby the air in one relation passes through the trays from top to bottom, and the other relation through the trays from bottom to top.

21. In a drier the combination of an elongated drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; devices for supporting the ma terial to be dried in a plane inclined to the direction of the flow of air; and means for reversing the relation between the direction of the flow of air and the material.

22. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; de-

' vices for supporting the material at an inclination to the direction of the flow of air; means for reversing said devices to reverse the inclination to the direction of the flow ofair.

23. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; and a plurality of tiers of supports for material to be dried, said supports holding the material at an inclination to the direction of the flow of air and giving to the material in one tier of supports an inclination in a reverse direction from the inclination of the material in another tier.

24. In a drier the combination of a drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; a plurality of tiers of supports for material to be dried, said supports holding the material at an inclination to the direction of the flow of air and givin to the material in one tier of supports an inclination in a reverse direction from the inclination of the material in another tier; and means 'for reversing the relation between the direction of the flow of air and the material on each tier of supports.

25. In a drierthe combination'of adrying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally through said chamber; a plurality of tiers of' supports for material to be dried, said supports holding the material at an inclination to the direction of the flow of air and giving to the material current of a1r horizontally across said chamher; a plurality of tiers of supports for material to be dried, said supports holding the material at an inclination to the direction of the flow of air; means for reversing the relation between the direction of the flow of air and the inclination of material.

27. In a drier the combination of an elongated drying chamber; means for forcing a currentof air horizontally across said chamber; and a plurality of tiers of supports for material to be dried, said sup ports holding the material at an inclination to the dlrection of theflow of air, the inclination of the material in one tier of supports being in reverse relation to that of the material on another tier of supports.

28. In a drier the combination of an elongated drying chamber; means for forcing a current of air horizontally across said chamber; a plurality of tiers of supports for material to be dried, said supports holding the material at an inclination to the direction-of the flow of air, the inclination of the material in one tier of supports being in reverse relation to that of the material-on another tier of supports; and means for reversing the relation between the direction of the flow of air and the inclination of material in each tier of supports 29. In a drier the combination'of a drying chamber having a plurality of tracks therein; cars on said tracks having material supports thereon, said supportsbeing adapted to hold said material at an inclination; means for forcing a current of air through said chamber horizontally crosswise of said tracks; and means for transferring the cars from the-track more remote from the incoming air to .a track nearer the incoming air.

30. In a'drier the combination of a driing chamber, having a plurality of tra'c s therein, cars on said tracks having mate ,rial su ports thereon, said supports being adapted to hold said material at an inchnation, means for forcing a current of air through said chamber horizontally crosswise of said tracks; and means for transfer-' ring the cars from the track more remote from the incoming air to a track nearer the incoming air, and for reversin the relation between the direction of t e flow of air and the inclination of material. 31. In the method of drying materials,

which consists in arranging material on a plurality of rows of supporting means, advancing the supporting means with the material thereon lengthwise of said rows, subjecting the material to a flow of air directed crosswise of the direction in which the rows are advanced and varying the relation between the flow of air and the ma terial, whereby the material is initially remote from the incoming air. and later brought nearer the incoming air.

82. The method of drying material which consists in arranging the material on a plurality of rows of supporting means, subjecting the material to a flow of air directed crosswise of the rows, advancin the material lengthwise of a row remote om the incoming air, transferring it to and advancing it along a row nearer the incoming air.

33. The method of drying material, which consists in arranging material on a plurality of rows of supports, advancing the material on said supports lengthwise of said rows, subjecting the material to a flow of air directed crosswise of the rows and with the direction of the flow of air and the supports inclined relatively to each other, and varying the relation between the flow of air and the material whereby the inclination is reversed.

34. The method of drying material, which consists in arranging material on a lurality of rows of supports, advancing t e material on said supports lengthwise of said rows, subjecting the material to a flow of air directed crosswise of the rows and with the direction of the flow of air and the supports inclined relatively to each other, and varying the relation between the flow of air and the material whereby the inclination is reversed and the material is initially remote from the incoming air and later brought nearer the incoming air;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ROBERT REA. Witnesses:

A. E. HAMMOND,' H.- A. MOORE. 

